Neuroendocrinology · 2008 · 106 citations · 0 references
Life SciencesNeurosciencePhysiologyNeurochemistryNeuroendocrinologyNeuropharmacologyAdrenal HormonesHormone ReleaseHormone SecretionHypothalamic-pituitary AxisHypothalamic-pituitary RegulationNeuroendocrine PhysiologyCatecholamine SecretionHypothalamic FunctionHypothalamic Hormone SecretionHypothalamic HormonesHypothalamic NeurosecretionNoradrenergic CircuitsNoradrenergic ModulationNoradrenergic Neurotransmission
In order to study the involvement of the hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in catecholamine-induced adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion, we have measured CRF levels in rat hypophysial portal blood (HPB) after the pharmacological destruction of the ventral noradrenergic bundle (VNAB), using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) stereotaxically injected into the VNAB. CRF levels in HPB were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the effects of 6-OHDA injection were controlled by the determination of catecholamine concentrations in the total hypothalamus. VNAB lesions induced a dramatic decrease in norepinephrine and epinephrine hypothalamic concentration. The CRF levels in HPB were also significantly reduced. These results suggest that central catecholamines exert a direct stimulatory control on the CRF release and play a major role in stress-induced ACTH secretion.